Page 132 of Vipers and Vendettas

‘The book I’m reading says it’s not uncommon to feel tired in the second trimester,’ Iron says.

The others nod their agreement.

I raise my brows at them. ‘You’re all reading up on pregnancy, huh?’

None of them look even the slightest bit embarrassed, and a small smile alights my face. ‘Thanks,’ I say quietly. ‘It means a lot.’

Axel and Jayce shuffle a little, looking slightly uncomfortable at my gratitude.

‘You don’t need to thank us for loving you,’ Jayce says.’ And we do. We love you, Jules. You and Jellybean are stuck with us forever.’

‘I love you too,’ I whisper.

The bathroom door is opened, and I hear a bath running. I’m saved from my imminent tears as Maddox looms over me.

‘Come on, darling. Let’s clean you up,’ he says, plucking me off the bed and lowering me into the warm bath.

He sits on the side and washes my hair gently as I soap myself up and wash off.

Afterward, I’m bundled into a towel and sat on the bed where Jayce sits in front of me and holds me while Krase slowly brushes my hair while I doze on his brother’s chest.

My towel is taken at some point, and a shirt is put over my head.

I’m lowered into the bed and fall asleep to a movie playing in the background. I’ve never felt so happy and content in my life.

If this is how it’s going to be, count me and Jellybean in forever.

The next day I wake to the sound of a baby, and my eyes snap open. I jump off the bed and go into the hallway to find my guys all crowding around Sie, who’s holding a tiny girl who looks even more impossibly small in his huge arms.

I hang back a little. I don’t have much experience with babies, although I should probably start practicing, I suppose.

Sie smiles when he sees me over the heads of the others.

‘Is Jane okay?’ I ask. ‘Does she need anything?’

He shakes his head. ‘Tabitha has it handled, and Jane is fine. The baby too.’

He beckons me forward, and carefully, he hands me the little bundle of joy.

‘She’s so small and pink,’ I whisper in awe. ‘What’s her name?’

‘India.’

‘Hi, India, I’m your auntie Jules.’

My smile is wide as I hand her back a minute later, and Sie takes her into Jane’s room.

My clan all look a little dazed.

‘What’s wrong?’ I ask.

‘I think we all just realized that that’s going to be us in a few months,’ Maddox chuckles. ‘I need a bracing drink, I think.’

He goes down the stairs, and a second later, I hear a yell. ‘What the absolute FUCK have you done to my chairs, you demonic hound!’

Shit!